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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

While not entirely wordless and not entirely my original idea, sharing something other than my OWN thoughts and words that will convey a message nonetheless...a picture, a video...struck me as a great concept.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

The Knitted Flowers and Embellishments Workshop was a ton of fun yesterday! Sadly I waited until the last few minutes of class before I started snapping pictures, but there are a few to share.

I loved Cyndi's laugh (on the right) and Lori's expression (on the left) in this one!

Esther Warren's embroidered flower on a stockinette background. So cute!

Lori Karpen's purple flower with the orange center is awesome. She added her own flair to the pattern by crocheting a border around the petals. Karrie Gillam did a great job with the chain stitch and lazy daisy stitch!

Cyndi Johnson and Debbie Sulzbach concentrating!

Lacy Leaves pattern that can be made in different sizes and with or without an i-cord stem

Pretty little 5-petal flower. We all agreed that the rolled edges give it character and make it seem more like a real flower.

Felted and un-felted version of the basic stockinette stitch flower.

3-petal flower made from variegated ribbon yarn.

Makes a cute coaster, don't you think? This was just a class sample I knit, but will write it up and include the very simple pattern with my next post.

The 'Petite Flower' pattern on the left makes a great bookmark and I love the button center on this garter stitch bloom. Wouldn't that be cute pinned on the side of a hat?

And of course I had to have some real flowers on the table for a little inspiration.

I have such spring fever and this class was just what we all needed, I think, to inspire a little gardening of a different kind.

Friday, April 1, 2011

I began blogging in November of 2009 and my first post was about the Scotts Bluff Valley Fiber Arts Fair. It has been interesting to go back over the archives (found in the right-hand column about half way down) and to see how my personal 'style' of writing and posting has developed. (and is still evolving, of course...I really have many things to work on!)

No doubt I like to write. No doubt I love to knit. No doubt I have a few things to say! And no doubt my style is to try and tell a story. That is the kind of writing I love to read, and so it's not surprising I choose to write in the same manner.

I have potential blog posts running through my brain day in and day out. Thoughts and ideas hit me when I am driving, eating, laying in bed at night, showering, and of course, knitting! I compose things over and over in my mind until I believe I have something worth writing down. And then I can't get to my laptop fast enough to get those phrases out of my head and saved on the computer before I completely lose them.

In fact, one of the reasons I have only been posting once a month on average is because I do work at those posts, tweaking, adding, editing, for a few weeks. It's time consuming and a labor of love. Every time I click the button "Publish Post", I get a little thrill and also a pang in my stomach.

It's the combination of the excitement and the vulnerability of putting my thoughts out there for everyone to read and critique that keeps me coming back for more.

Recently I realized that not all of my ideas are based on a detailed adventure or profound epiphany though.

A little snippet of information, an interesting thought or quote, something beautiful, something inspiring, something silly, a quick tip or technique that just might make your life easier, a noteworthy piece of news...

Knitting related or otherwise... these are all things I would term perfect for a drive-by posting! Drive-by posting? Yep! Just a little something I want to drop in your lap and then run away and leave you to it.

Last June I shared this post with you about art and knitting. As I look back over those pictures I am reminded of the amazingly diverse world of fiber art and I fall in love with it all over again.

And this morning I came across an article that reminded me of of that topic.

Masterpieces reimagined. How lovely. How inspiring.

Take a look. It's worth it!

A happy Friday to all! Get out there and get your hands busy. There is a whole world of creativity just calling your name!